Why do I lack motivation to necessary tasks, and yet find plenty to do trivial ones?

[Minnie]

For whatever reason, I can never find the motivation to do necessary tasks, or complete any preset goals. On the other hand, whenever something trivial and unnecessary is presented, like extra credit at school, i'm very motived to complete it, no matter the difficulty or how long it would take, even if it's more tedious than the homework itself. Why is that?

[Kate43]

It's a "control thing."

I'm the same way. You want to do what you aren't forced to do because of your circumstances...which is natural.